After the experience with the Last Chance of course I had to try again. This time
I went for a real folding design with assembly of all parts within a tight
fitting skin.
This is my last version of a foldable all-aluminum baidarka. This
model is structurally as rigid as the original, without the handling limitations
of many folding designs.

The frame features only two separation points per gunwale, which means
that it can be competely disassembled and then the gunwales split into
three pieces each. This results in a very strong frame; the drawback is
an increased weight compared to the original. The advantage is an unprecedented
mobility for a baidarka.

The empty ''Nevermore'' baidarka is 5.16m long (with rudder 5.30m), has
a beam of 55cm and weighs 26.5kg (without sail). The whole expedition
equipment are two bags of 32kg and 20kg. About $200 were spent for the
skin; $70 for aluminum tubes and scrap plates. Expect to spend a lot more
on tools and rivets... The new structure is quite as stable as a rigid
boat; but do not expect wonders, because after reaching the point of maximum
stress, aluminum will easily give and bend. Compared to a wooden boat,
there is always a smaller safety margin, because the fibers of high grade
wood seem to be a lot stronger.